FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

NORTH v. SOUTH MATCHES. WET WEATHER CONDITIONS. SOME BRIGHT PLAY. Conditions could hardly have been worse for the matches between North and Soy th Taranaki at Stratford yesterday. Rain made the ground heavy, and showers during the early part of the first match made matters till more unpleasant, good football being exceedngly difficult. Nevertheless, a good crowd was treated to very interesting displays. Both games were very fast, there being some good footwork on both sides, whilst the backs gave a very bright display. There were some spectacular movements, the North backs tn particular handling the ball well. There was considerable alteration in the teams as originally chosen owing to players being unable to get away. NORTH B (14) v. SOUTH B (0). In the North team, Sykes, Court and Linn were replaced by Clarke, Hooker* and B. Young, whilst in the South team Head, McLean, McMahon, Atkins, Lynskey, R. Paterson, and J. I Hammersley were replaced by Tuwhaka, Briggs, Humphries, A. Paterson, F. McKenna, McReynolds and A. Scott. A. Paterson captained South and R. Oliver North. This game was largely confined to the forwards, in which South had the advantage durI Ing the first spell, but in the second spell North forwards woke up and kept their opponents busy, while the North backs also | opened out and gave some pretty flashes of ; passing. Early in the game the South for- ! wards attacked, but Purcell hung on and | spoilt a chance. Then the North backs tried to open out, but could not handle too well, I and Taylor, coming through ball at foot with Brown handy, looked dangerous, until checked i I by Guy. Coulton broke away, but the South j pack, led by Scott, pressed, while Briggs also essayed a dash, but the defence stood the test. Guy marked and had a shot, which was charged down. North took a turn at attack I and pressed hotly. Ford receiving a kick and I having to retire, McCullough taking his place. ' South kept their line intact, but from a penalty Brown kicked a goal, and the spell ended: North 3, South 0.

! Changing over without any interval, the South forwards attacked, and a good run by Briggs ended in a force. Aided by free kicks, North got within striking distance, where Hooker set his backs going. Oliver, Matene, Brown and Coulton handled in good style, and the latter nearly got over. Again Tauwhaka checked a solid North attack, but soon Clarke | got over, Brown’s shot failing. Clarke here retired injured, Penniall taking his place. The Northern team, both forwards and backs, were now having the better of the game. Tuwhaka was smothered with the ball and J. Taylor secured and scored, Brown’s shot failing. A moment later South were again In trouble, but Guy got round and forced. Matene then made a good attempt from a penalty. Then followed another great bout of passing, in which Hooker, Oliver, Brown, Matene, Coulton and again Brown took a hand. The latter kicked high, and a couple of the opposing backs fumbling, presented Sharrock with a try, which the same player converted. The game ended soon after with the score:— North <l4 South o Mr. L. Goodacre refereed. SOUTH A (6) v. NORTH A (0). This provided a very keen struggle, and a match that was full of incident to the finish. Both teams made the game open, and for a wet day exhilarating football was witnessed. The game was very fast, the forwards rushing play up and down field, while tne packs also brought off some splendid bouts. In the forwards North had the advantage in •the loose and in the line-out, but South’s weight told in the scrums. The North backs showed more initiative in attack than their opponents, while the defence of both teams was good. On the day plaj’ was fairly even. There was very little alteration tn the teams as published. In the South team Cameron (fiveeighths) was replaced by McMahon, while •ioc Hammefsley and West (forwards) were replaced by Jim Hammersley and R. Patterson. In the North team Beard was replaced by Walter. R. Roberts captained South and R. Coutts North.

From the start the North pack attacked, and the backs sent the ball out to Hart, who could not reach it, and Tuke saved. Tuke again saved when Fryday and G. Taylor, by , good footwork, beat R. Roberts. Greig set the 1 southern backs moving, and Johnston, cutting j through, put them in a handy position, where Roberts just failed to goal from a penalty, i Good play by the Southern pack, aided by a I neat kick by B. Roberts, saw South press, I and then Young, failing -to take a high kick |by Tuke, the Southern pack came swarming , down and the ball was sent out to Hammers- ' ley, who scored. Tuke failed to goal. Then 1 followed a series of scrums, until Hart intercepted a pass, and in the resultant play Coutts had a resultless penalty. The North forwards were now playing up better, and as Berg also set his backs moving, South were kept busy defending. Patterson led the South forwards down field, but the tackling was good. A moment later the Northern pack, headed by Kivell, Walter, Fryday and Campbell, swept down the field, and smothering Tuke’s return, Fryday scored. Morrison’s kick failed. Halftime sounded with the score three all. North attacked on resuming, and their backs got in -some good work, Sturmey and Coutts being prominent, but Spratt saved by marking. Strenuous play then ensued close to the Southern line. The backs threw the ball about, but the greasy ground, together with good tackling, prevented the attack being pressed home. A good bout between Berg, Sturmey, Coutts, Ennis and Wood saw the latter beat R. Roberts, but Johnston cut In and lined. Soon Johnston intercepted, and beating a couple of men, handed on .to Roberts, who in turn sent it back, and Johnston scored a pretty try. Roberts failed to goal. Nothing daunted, North came again to the attack, and Hart beat several men, but was collared. Fast play ensued in South territory, but a free kick relieved. After a further period of defence the Southern pack cleared, and McMahon, Johnston, and B. Roberts got moving. Then Hart tried to pot, but the hall rebounded. L. Hunt headed a Southern rush to near the Northern goal line, and after strenuous defence Young failed to take cleanly, but Ennis forced. Then ensued an exciting finish. From the kick off the North forwards charged down, and throwing the ball about in their opponents’ territory. Hart raced round and scored between the posts. Morrison’s kick was charged down. The game ended:— North , *5 South 0 Mr. F. Julian refereed. TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was held last night. Present: Messrs. Jas. McLeod (chairman), J. Goodwin, A. Neilson, W. A. Guy, E. H. Young, and Jas. Garcia. The transfer of E. Dudding (Stratford) from third grade to fourth grade was approved. The Wellington Rugby Union wrote confirming July 4 for the match against Taranaki at i Hawera. In connection with the tour of the B team, notification was received from the Horowhenua and Bush Unions to the effect that the dates suggested, viz. August 22 and August 25 respectively, would be suitable. It was resolved to inform North Auckland that August 29 was the only date available. ; The Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union wrote stat- ' Ing that the matter of appointing outside : referees by the New Zealand Rugby Union ■ for any big match was not viewed favorably I by them, as it was considered very unfair to j referees in the district that a referee from ; some other district should be appointed when ' a big match was set down.—lt was decided : to hold over discussion till next meeting. I It was decided to make a grant of £5 to j the sports funds of the Hawera Technical Col- | lege, Stratford District Hivh School, and New ; Plymouth Technical College, and also a pro- ■ visional grant of £2O to the Primary Schools’ ! Rugby Union. It was decided to play an A v. B. representative match at New Plymouth on June 23, all senior matches to be postponed on that date. It was decided that the Kaponga v. Pateft fourth grade match should be played at the •ud of the